Elevator car-borne mechanism for translating pin-engaging jaws



ELEVATOR CAR-BORNE MECHANISM FOR TRANSLATING PIN-ENGAGING am Filed Dec. 9, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 'za July 22, 1952 w. ARMSTRONG 2,604,191

ELEVATOR CAR-BORNE MECHANISM FOR TRANSLATING PIN-ENGAGING JAWS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1949 WOW-1mg y 22, 1952 w. ARMSTR NG 2,604,191

ELEVATOR CAR-BORNE M CHANISM FOR v TRANSLATING PIN-ENGAGING JAWS Filed Dec. 1949 y s Sheets-Sheet s hill J I W/MM s are,

the car.

Patented July 22, 1952 ELEVATOR CAR-BORNE MECHANISM FOR I TRANSLATING PIN-ENGAGING JAWs We'stropp Armstrong, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to'Armstrong Riding Car Opcra'torCorp Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 9, 1949, Serial No. 132,162

This invention relates to a mechanism for translating the pin-engaging jaws of a riding car operator.

In the elevator art, there are two types of mechanisms for opening the level doors in the shafts. These types are not exclusive but are here differentiated in order to assist in an up ders'tanding of the invention'andthe explanation thereof. These types are first the type in which thedoor or doors at each landing are opened and'closed by a mechanism associated with the respective level, so that there are the same number of mechanisms as there are levels; and second-the type in which thereis a single mechanism carried by the elevator car which is coupled in some manner to the door or doors at each level when the car arrives 'thereat, So, if the mechanism is an electric motor and linkages, in the first type there are a plurality of motors stationed one or more at each level, and in the second type there isa single motor carried by The mechanism which opens and closes the door is known as'anoperator, and thesecond type alluded to above is known as a riding car operator.

This invention is' lim'ited to a ridingcar operator. Attention is invited to my cmpending application Serial No. 101,734, filed June28, 1949, now Patent No. 2,578,459, for an Elevator Closure Operating Mechanism, in which I describe an elevator having a riding car operator and with which my present invention can be used. In the said co-pe'nding application, the elevator car did not have a door .or gate and hence the operator couldbe placed on. the roof of the car at any convenient position, but in the structure shown here the car is presumed to have a gate of its own and hence the operator is arranged to permit thegate to move vertically past the entrance to the car so that there can be no parts protruding into the path of the car gate, This arang'ement necessitates the motor and gear box to be placed at one side of thecar, while the pin-engaging jaws and associated structure is at the opposite side of the car, being connected by appropriate linkages within the confines of the vertically movable car gate, but it is desired to point out that such an arrangement while promoting safety and desirable from that standpoint is not required from a functional standpoint. In

the type of carwhich has no gate.

My present invention is equally applicable to installations where thedoors at the respective levels are intended to open vertically or horizontally. The only structural requirements are that the door opening mechanism at each level have a pin which projects into the elevator shaft, the pin is adapted. to be e s sed' y p of other words, my present invention is applicable to Claims. (Cl. 187--52) the riding car operatorwh'en the level is reached by the car, and horizontal translative' movement of the said part in a plane parallel vx'rith'the plane of the doors will serve to actuate the door opening mechanism through the 'medi'urn'cf th'epin.

From the above discussion it should be apparent that objects of the inventionlie'inthe provision of an efficacious riding car operator intended to open the doors at the respective levels, and intended to accomplish the functions outlined above.

Additional objects of the invention are concerned with the constructional details of such a riding car operator. I a

Considering now the arrangement ofthe parts of the installation, from a practicalstandpoint there must be provision for certain variations of the positionsof said parts. Theoperator ofjm'y invention presents a pair of vertical jaws to the respective pins as the car rides up and down the shaft. The jaws must clear the pin of every level as the-car rides by and there willbe-a certain amount of play, and variations in'tl 'e location of the pin. Therefore the j'aws must be considerably further apart than the diameter of the pin, or else a pin may at one time or another miss the entranceto the space between the jaws and cause great damage to the installation. My in! vention therefore contemplates that the opera tor shall provide such wide space when the (car is passing any level or is at rest alongside a level. When however the operator is set in motion at a given level, the jaws are designed to take up the unoccupied space by approaching one another until engaged with the pin. Thereafter, the operator translates the jaws to open the door. The jaws remain in their engaged position while the door is being opened, while it remains open, and as it is being closed, but when the door finally has been closed by the operator, a last function of the mechanism spreads the jaws once more so that the pin is clear and the car can be safely moved up and down the shaft. f

Additional objects of theinvention" are concerned with the provision of thejaw spreading and narrowing mechanism as well as the provi *sion of such a mechanism which issimple, em

cient, positive, extremely economical and takes up very little space.v I I v I Another object cr me, invent on is to p ovide means for bracing the elevator car against the shaft walls while the opera toris functioning,

With the foregoing and other objects-in; view which will appear as the description proceeds, theinvention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafter-fully described, illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, 1 and partic'ularly pointed out in the appended claims, it beingun derstood that various changes-in the form, pro-' portion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without'departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understand-, ing of this invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, this invention, its mode of construction, assembly 'and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. 7

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar-parts throughout the several figures'of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ridingcar operator 'constructedin accordance with my invention, looking at the same from the rear of the elevator car toward the front thereof. In this view the car is at rest alongside one level with the doors at the level closed. This is also the condition which prevails as the elevator car moves from level to level. V V

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the left hand end of the riding car operator, the jaws being shown in the position where same have approached one another to engage upon the pin of the door opening mechanism so that the pull rod may be actuated to translate the jaws in opening the doors. 3

Fig. 3 is-a sectional view through the mechanism taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. .Z'andin the indicated direction.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views similarto that of Fig. 2 but showing different conditions of operation of the riding car operator resulting indifferent positions of the component parts thereof.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational View of the right hand end of the operator showing the construction by means of which power is applied through the linkages of the riding car operator, various positions of the mechanism being shown.

Generally my new construction includes a source of rotational power in the form of an electric motorand associated gear reduction controlled from the inside of the elevator car, the pin-engaging jaws, and means connected between the motor and each of the jaws. One jaw is connected-directly to a crank arm which is rotated by the motor. The secondjaw is movable relative to the first but it is connected by means of a toothed coupling device to the first for certain purposes. A push rod arrangement determines the mannerof. connection and the push rod is actuated by the rotation of the crank on the motor V v,

The device operates as follows: In initial position the jaws are spread. The first movement of the crank arm takes up the slack on the right side of the pin by positive movement of the directly connected jaw. The toothed coupling device of the second jaw in initial position is inoperative and the jaw is held inits furthest position to the left against the bias of a spring by a push rod engaged bythe crank arm.. As the crank arm moves taking up the slack as described, the push rod is pulled to the right by a second spring, rendering the toothed coupling device operative and permitting the first spring referred to to pull the second jaw to the right until it engages the pin. Further movement of the crank arm has no effect upon the push rod, I

but pulls the coupled jaws to the right opening 4 the level doors. Reversal of the rotation of the motor, pushes the jawsv to the left, closing the doors; and spreads the jaws after the doors have been closed. The directly coupled jaw is moved slightly to the right by a slight rotation of the crank arm past dead center, and during this movement, the toothed coupling device is disengaged and the push rod moves the second jaw to the left. The jaws are thus returned to their initial position.

The above explanation is a general one, and made with reference to the drawings as to the right and left designations. Obviously the re- Verse arrangement will operate in the identical manner. 7 Q

Referring now to the details of my invention, in the drawings I have illustrated the pertinent parts of an elevator installation, in which the reference character I0 designates generallyan elevator car riding in a shaft I I defined by walls I2 and carrying upon the roof of said car a riding car operator I3 constructed in accordance with my invention. The construction of my invention enables a completely unobstructed entrance -to the car I0, the bulky, portions of. the mechanism being disposed at opposite sides of the car. Thus for example, the left hand end of the operator mechanism is extremely thin as demonstrated by the appearance thereof in section in Fig. 3. Note also that the motor I4 and its associated mechanismv is placed-off to the righttopermit clearance. I

There is provided an elongate framework which may be of any suitable construction for guiding and confining the linkages. I have illustrated top and bottom stringers I 5 and I6. ex-

tending the entire width of the elevatorcar I0, and having vertical cross bracing provided by spacers I1 and ,I8, end gusset plates I9 and 20, and possibly other spacer members such as ,2! shown in Fig. 4. The stringers may be formed of channels or angles as desired. The exactdetails of construction of the framework are not important, providing the described functions are accomplished thereby. At its left end, a protective angle iron 22 may be secured.

The framework is secured to the car 'I 0 and is rigid throughout its extent since the motion produced adjacent the motor I4must accurately be transmitted to the opposite side of they car by mechanical means supported by the framework. The motor I4 is supported by a platform 23 since same may protrude beyond the normal extent of the car. The rotation of the motor I 6 serves to rotate a crank arm 24 pivotally secured at 25 to a connecting rod 26. The rod 26 in turn is secured to a cross head 21 by means of a wrist pin 28 and the cross head is confined within the framework between the stringers I5 and I6 by any suitable cross. head guides which are here not shown, but which may include the flanges 29 and 30 of the stringers I5 and I6. Obviously the cross head 21 will be reciprocated or translated ,in a horizontal direction either right or left by rotation of the crank arm 24. I have shown an arrangement in which there is va toothed pinion 3| secured to the shaft 32 of the motor I4 and rotatable therewith, and a second pinion 33 adapted to be rotated by pinion 3I and hence enmeshed therewith. The crank arm 2;; is secured to the shaft 34 of thepinion 33 and rotates therewith. This arrangement is necessary only in case it is desired to conserve space, since it is-practical to secure the crank arm 24 directly to the motor shaft 32 if the speed of the andnot engaged with the lever 46.

motor i4 is satisfactory and there is sufficient theupin 43 of the lever 40 and having its other end attached to a pin 44 on the car lil.= A push rod 45is'pivotally secured at 46 intermediate the ends of the lever 40 adjacent a cam edge 41 of the lever. The nose 48 of the crank arm 24 is adapted to engage the cam edge 47- during rotation of the said crank arm 24 thereby causing the lever 40 to swing about its pivot 4|, thereby reciprocating the push rod45. The movement of the crank arm'24 which moves the nose 48 away from the cam edge47 permits the spring 42 to pull the lever 49 to the right; i. e., swing.

same in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot 4|, while that movement of .the arm 24 carrying the nose against the cam'edge 41 swings the lever 40 ina clockwise direction against the bias of the spring I 42. 'The counterclockwise swinging of the arm 48 is limited by a stcpmember' 49 mounted on the car, and adapted to be engaged by the lower endof the lever 40. This might occur in'case of overcoasting of. the crank arm 24 in closing the doors (not shown) where the arm 24 might come to rest at a position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. and designated 24-A. It will occur while the doors are being opened or closed and the crank arm 24 is above dead center A typical position of the crank arm 24 while not engaged with the lever 46] is'shown in broken lines/in Fig. 6 and .is' designated 24-B,'-andthe dead center position is designated 24-C. 1

The movements of the cross head. 21 and push rod 45 are. transmitted 'to-the left hand side-of the riding car operator'by means of the'elongate rods '50 and 5! respectively. It should he noted' that the upper of these two .rods'namely' 5|, is

connected to the push rod 45 by an offset connection 52 whichis rigid where attached to the push rod 45 but is pivoted at 53 so that the rod 5| is capable of vertical 'swingi ngabout thepivot 53. The rod 59 may be rigidly connected in any suitable manner to the cross. head 21' and likewise may rigidly be connected to one of the jaws in a manner to be described. .7

Referring now to the left .handside of the mechanism, there are provided a pair of jaws, 50 and 6! normally spaced one from the other to provide a groove or passageway extending vertically and being free onboth ends so that the pin 62 which is mounted upon the lever 63 that operates the door opening linkage may readily pass'therethrough when the car 10 moves up and down the-shaft! I". There are tapered inside ends of the car IE; but this. construction is not re-.

quired, since the pin 62 may havea vertical'component of motion while being actuated to' open.

the doors without aifectingthe operation of my present device.

' The jaw 6| is rigidly secured to a rectangular plate member 69 which is arranged for horizontal sliding movement between guide members 19 and I! attached to the stringers l5 and I6 respectively as shown in Fig. 3. The rod 50 is secured at 12a to theplate memberBSl, so that in effect the jaw 6! is directly connected for motion with the cross head 21. v a

The plate 69 has a central rectangular opening 72 best-shown in Fig. 5 having a toothed insert 73 in the bottom thereof. The individual teeth 14 have their right hand edges vertical and their left hand edges slanted to the left. A member having oppositely positioned teeth will therefore engage with the insert only if moved to the left relative thereto. The opening 12 is to allow space so that the parts of the coupling device to be described may be accommodated and operated.

The rear surface of the rectangular plate member 69 has a pair of guide members 15 and 16 secured thereto having their edges rabbeted so as to permit horizontal sliding movement of a second rectangular plate member I7 to which the jaw 60 is rigidly secured. As shown in Fig.5, the plate member 11 is biased to move to. the right relative to the plate member 69 by means of a coil spring l8 which extends between the pins I9 and respectively of the plate members. The front surface of the platemember i1 is provided with a projection BI and 'a' member82 mounting a pin 83 upon which are'commonly' pivoted a pair of dogs 84 andlfid; Each 'dog'has a downwardly extending tooth 86' and 81 respectively of identical shape as the teeth 14, the teeth and 81 being spaced apart a distance equal to one-half of the spacing between the respective teeth it. This permits fineste'ps of "engagement without sacrificeof strength of the teeth. Each of the dogs 84 and 85 has an upwardly extending arm 88 and 89 respectively lying substantially against the surface of th plate ll, there being a forwardly extending projection 90 and ti on respective arms 88 and 89. As will be noted from Fig. 5, the rod 5| is arranged to clear the arms 38 and 89, but not' the projections so and 9!, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The left hand end of the rod 5| is free' as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and has a blunt nose 92 adapted to engage against the projection 8| and a slanted portion 93 adapted to ride the slanted cam edge '94 of a member 95 which is secured to the brace member 2! so a-s'to be'fixed j relative to the car 10. Obviously if the rod iii moves'to the left it will ride upwardly upon the l4 and then push the entireplate ii to the left because of engagement of the nose 92 with the projection 8|. This movement will push the jaw fiil to the left against the tension of the spring 18 and hold same in that position so long as the rod 51 is disposed as shown in Fig. 5.

The detailed operation of the operator will now' be set forth: I j

The initial position of the device is illustrated in Fig. l and by the solid linesof Figs. 5 and fi. Under these circumstances the jaws ail and 65 are spread apart to their greatest extent sothat the pins of the respective door opening mechanisms readily clear'the same and move through the passageway 64 as the elevator car it moves up and down in the shaft l l. Note that the nose 92 of the rod 5lis holding the leftja-w 60 open, and the teeth 85 and 8Tclear the teeth 74.

Presume now that 'the elevator car [0 has stoppedat a'givenlevel' at which there is a-set .of the teeth 14, in this case the tooth 87.

7 of doors to be opened by swinging the lever- 63, to be accomplished by translating the pin 62 to the right as viewed in Fig. 5. Thedispositionof the pin 62 relative to the jaws 69 and 6I is not very important so long as it issomewhere between the upper and lower ends thereof in the passageway 64. Thus it will be presumed that the pin 62 is disposed in the geometric center of the passageway 64 when the car I9 is stopped at a given level; In Figs. 4 and 5 the broken outline 62-A is shown to illustrate the extent of movement of the jaws 69 and 6|. The motor I4 is now energized by the elevator car attendant, causing same to rotate in such a direction as to rotate the pinion 3| in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby rotating the pinion 33 in a clockwise direction. This moves the crank arm 24 from the full line position of Fig. 6 in unison with said pinion 33. The first portion of this rotation consists of movement to the broken line position designated 24-C in said Fig. 6 which is the deadcenter position for the crank arm. This movement moves the cross head 21 a small amount to the left which also carries the rod 59 to a small extent to the left, as indicated by the broken lines 59-C of Fig. 5. The plate 69 is thus moved to the left and the new position is indicated by the broken lines 69-0 of Fig. 5. This preliminary movement serves to take up the slack between the pin 62 and the jaw 6|, so that when the crank arm 24 has reached dead center position 24-0 the jaw 6| is in position indicated by the broken lines 6I-C of Fig. 5 engaged against the right side of the pin 62. During this movement of the plate member 69, other things are occurring including the initiation of dropping movement of the teeth 86 and 81 of the dogs 84 andSE into the teeth 14 of the insert 13, but since the movement of the plate 99relative to the plate 17. is from right to left, the teeth will not engage but will slide upon one another with their slanted sides riding relative one to the other. During the most of this sliding movement, however, teeth 86 and 8! clear teeth I4 because the dogs 84 and 85 are held up by rod 5 I.

While the movement of the plate member 69 and the jaw BI is occurring, the nose 48 of the crank arm 24 is riding up the cam edge 41 of the boomerang shaped lever 49, which is permitted to be pulled to the right by the spring 42 in counter-clockwise swinging about th pivot 4|. The position of the lever 49 at dead center, position of the lever 24 is shown by the broken lines designated 49-0. During this movement of the lever 49, the push rod 45 is pulled to the right, carrying with it the rod 5|. Referring now to Fig. 2, this action carries the rod 5| to the position shown. The nose 92 moves. to the right, permitting the projection 8| to follow the same because the spring I8 now pulls the plate 17 to the right relative to the plate 69. As the bottom of the rod 5I rides the member 96, the slanted edge 93 finally drops along the cam edge 94 removing the support of the rod from under the projections 99.and 91 thereby permitting the dogs 84 and 85 to drop downwardly carrying one or the other of the teeth 86 and 81 into engagement with one The jaw 69, of course, being secured to the plate 11 likewise moves to the right until it is firmly engaged against the left hand side of the pin 62. This position is shown in Fig. 2. 1

The motor I4 continues to rotate and the crank arm 24 continues to move in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the broken lines 24-31 of Fig. 6. The right hand movement of the push rod 45 is limited because of the stop member 49 engaging the lever 49, but that is immaterial since the rod 5| no longer has any effect upon the dogs 84 and 95 or the jaw 69. The connecting rod 26, however, continues to follow the crank arm 24 and in Fig. 6 is shown in broken lines on the position 26-B corresponding to the position 24-3 of the crank arm. This pulls the cross head 21 and the rod 59 to the right. Looking at Fig. 2 it will be seen that this will move the plate member 69 and the jaw 69 to the right which certainly will not apply force to the pin 62, but also, since the toothed insert I3 is carried to the right, the tooth 91 engaged with one of the teeth 14 is also pulled to the right because the movement of the plate 11 relative to the plate 69 is now to the left. This causes the tooth 81 to remain engaged, and the pulling force is transmitted through the dog 84 to the member 82. and thence through the plate TI to the jaw 99. This of course will translate-the pin to the right, causing the opening of the doors.

It is desired to point out that the actions described in connection with Figs. 2 and 5 occur simultaneously, and that the use of two figures to illustrate same is only for purposes Of clarity. It appears then that as the motor I4 is started up, the jaws 69 and 6| will close upon the pin 62 at generally the same time, thereby taking up all slack in the passageway 64 before the pull is exerted against the pin 62.

Presume that the door has been opened, and is now being closed. The reverse of the processes described above occur. Two positions of return are shown in Fig. 4. As the crank arm passes dead center moving now in a counter-clockwise direction, it'pushes the rod 5| to the left causing the slanted portion 93 to ride up on the cam edge 94 of the member 95, lifting the dogs 84 and 85 and disengaging whichever tooth 86 or 81 was engaged with the toothed insert 13 while the nose 92 pushes against the projection 8| moving the jaw 69 to the left. The intermediate position described is indicated by the full lines of Fig. 4, whilethe final position is shown in the broken lines of said Fig. 4. Again,although not shown, the simultaneous movement of .the plate member 69 is being at the same time accomplished by the movement of the crank arm 24 from dead center position 24-0 to its full line position shown in Fig. 6. This of course once more opens the jaw 6I to the right so that finally the initial position described in connection with Fig. 5 has been achieved.

It is often desired to brace the car I9 against the walls I2 of the shaft in order to relieve any strain to which the elevator guides (not shown) may be subjected as the doors are being opened or closed. Tothis end, means may be provided which function simultaneous y with the jaws 69 and BI to brace the car I9. Thus, I may provide a construction shown only in Fig. 1 which includes extensions I99 and I M on the ends of lever 49 which move when the lever 49 swings. The lower extension MI is connected with a pivoted rod I92 guided at I93 with a shoe I 94 securedto its free end adapted to engage the right hand wall I2 of shaft II. The extension I99 has a similar pivoted rod I 95 having guide means and a shoe' (not shown) adapted to engage the left hand wall of the shaft. In normal position, the shoe I94 and its mate clear the wall, but while the doors are being opened or closed the shoes press against the walls and brace the car I9. The

{spring maybe ofcon' Y vide the bracing, or 'the 'ri may. beprovided positive means for swinging the lever 40 in a counterc ockwise direction fer this urpose;

In order to render this explana "clear, there have not been shown any switchesor electrical interlocks or mechanical levers for "latc neio "e he rurp s t'wh sh may in some "manner beasscciatedf with "the riding car operatori 'ltikewise; I' have not shown'the car gate 'or' the mechanism for" operating, the same, for

"idlerable strength to protion' simple and the same-reasons. 'I'do not wish'in any way to b'iimited or affectedjby the presence of parts andfapparatus whichmaybe associated with the 'GQl'lSliIllCtlOIl'deSCribed"f01,jjhB purpose of renderingsame more convenient to use, or safer to the: humanoperator and 'occupants,' or which mightbe required by governmental codes. Many changes and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the basic conceptsof my invention as set forth herein, and itis my intention only to be limited in accordance with the claims appended-hereto.- 'Whatis-claimed "ters Patent of the United States is:

' anddesired to secure by Let- 1. In an elevator apparatus in which a car is adapted to ride up; and down a shaft havin a-plurality of levels with door opening mechanisms at'each level and each mechanism is adapt- "ed to be actuated by a lever having a pin extending into the-shaft in the path of the car, and the pin is required to be translated with a hori-' zontal component of motion in order to move the lever; a car-born mechanism having pin-engaging jaws initially arranged in spaced vertical relationship to form a passageway permitting the pin at the various levels to move unobstructedly "through the passageway as the car rides vertically in the shaft, fbut adapted to move one towards the other to engage thepin at any given level and thereafter move, inunison'transversely of the shaft in one horizontal direction to supply the horizontal component of motion to the pin to open thedoors, and thereafter to move in unison in an opposite horizontal direction to supplythe horizontal component of motion to the pin toclose the doors; and thereafter to move away one from the other to become disengaged from the pin-to permit fre vertical movement of the car thereafter.

I 2. In an elevator apparatus in'whicha car is adapted to ride up anddown a shaft having a "plurality of levels with door opening mechanisms at'ea'ch level and each mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a lever having a pin extending into' the shaft in the path of the car,

and the pin is required to be translated with a horizontal component of motion in order to move the lever; a car-born mechanism having pinengaging jaws initially arranged in spaced vertical relationship to form a passageway permitting the pin at the various levels to move unobstructedly through the passageway as the car rides vertically in the shaft, but adapted to move one towards the other to engage the pin at any given level and thereafter move in unison transversely of the shaft in one horizontal direction to supply-the horizontal component of motion to 'the pin to open the doors, and thereafter to movein unison in an opposite horizontal direction to supply the horizontal component of motion to thepintov closethe doors, and thereafter to move away one from the other to become disengaged from .the .pin to permit free and vertical movement of the car thereafter, said ter during the unison movement of the jaws, the

second jaw being normally urged towards said one jaw and having a coupling device for connecting said second jaw to said first jaw, and cam means operated by said crank arm rendering the coupling device inoperative and spacing the second jaw from the pin when the crank arm is in said position to one side of dead" center, but permitting said second jaw to'engage said pin and render the coupling device operative when the crank arm is moved at least todead center.

3. In an elevator apparatus in which a car is adapted to ride up and down a shaft having a plurality of levels with door opening mechanisms at each level and each mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a lever having a pin extending into the shaft in the path of the car, and the pin is required to be translated with a horizontal component of motion in order to move the lever; a car-born mechanism having pin-engaging jaws initially arranged in spaced vertical relationship to form a passageway permitting the pin at the various levels to move unobstructedly through the passageway as the car rides vertically in the shaft, but adapted to movev one ;engaged from the pin to permit free and vertical movement of the car thereafter, said mechanism including a source of rotating power, a crank arm connected tothe first jaw and to the power source and having a dead center position with said first jaw engaged against the pin, and a posi-- tion to one side of dead center where said first jaw is spaced from the pin, but adapted to be rotated upon the opposite side of dead center during the unison movement of the jaws, the second jaw being normally urged towards said one jaw and having a coupling device for connecting said second jaw tov said first jaw, and cam means operated by said crank-arm rendering the coupling device inoperative and spacing the second jaw from the pin when the crank arm is in said position to one side] of dead center, but permitting said second jaw to engage said pin and render the coupling device operative whenvthe crank arm is moved at least to dead center, said cam means including a push rod biased to move in the same direction as the second .jaw when moving toward said pin, an actuating lever connected with the push .rod, the crankarm engaging the lever and-adapted to movesame against the, direction of bias whenrotating from said position on one side of dead center'to deadcenter, the end of the pushrod being engaged against the second jaw. I

4. In an elevator apparatus inwhich a car is adapted to ride up and down a shaftha'ving a plurality of levels with door op'enin'g mechanisms at each level and each mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a lever having a pin extending into the, shaftin the path of the car,

the pin at the various; levels to move un- "obstructedly through the passageway as the car rides vertically in the shaft, but adapted to move one towards the other to engage the pin at any given level and thereafter move in unison transversely of the shaft in one horizontal direction to supply the horizontal component of motion to the pin to open the doors, and thereafter to move 'in'unison in an opposite horizontal direction to supply the horizontal component of motion to the pin to close the doors, and thereafter to move away one from the other to become disengaged from the pin to permit, free and vertical movement of the car thereafter, said mechanism including a source of rotating power, a crank arm connected to'the first jaw and to the power source and having a dead center position with said first jaw engaged against the pin,

and a position to one sideof dead center where said first jawis spaced from the pin, but adapted to be rotated upon the opposite side of dead center during the unison movement of the jaws, the second jaw being normally urged towards said one jaw and having a coupling device for connecting said second jawfto said first jaw, and cam means operated by said crank arm rendering the coupling device inoperative andspacing the second jaw from thepin when the crank arm is in said positionto one side of dead center, but permitting said, second jaw to engage said pin and render the coupling device operative when the crank arm is moved at least to dead center, said cam means including a push rod biased to move in' thefsame direction as the second jaw when moving toward said pin, an actuating lever connected with the push rod, the crank ar'mengaging the lever and adapted to move same against the direction of bias when rotating from said position on one side of dead center to dead center, the end of the push rod being engaged against the second jaw, and said coupling device consisting of teeth attached to the said first jaw and dog means attached to the second jaw and adapted to engage with said teeth, and said push rod having means for raising the rod and disengaging the dog means when the second jaw is pushed away from the pin.

5. In a device or the character described including a verticalshaft in which a car is adapted to ride, said shaft having a series of levels with a door opening mechanism at each level and each mechanism having a lever and a pin on said lever protruding into'zthe shaft in operative relationship to the car, whereby said mechanism is operable when the pin is moved parallel to the plane of the door, a riding car operator mounted on said car comprising a frame, a pair of vertically arranged movable members adapted to engage said pin when the car reaches any given'level, means for moving the members horizontally and thereby supplying a horizontal component of motion to the pin to open and close the doors, and said members adapted thereafter to be disengaged from said pin and remain in a spaced apart position whereby thepin can pass therebetween during the vertical of the car in the shaft.

6. In a device of the character described including a vertical shaft in which a car is adapted movement I the inane of f the coo to ride, said shaft having a series of levels with sin at eaoh level and each mechanism as said lever protruding intoItheshaft-in operative relationship to 'fli car, whereby said mechanism .is 'operablwhen the, is moved parallel to ,r .a riding, car hperator mountedionsa'id car' om ris'n a framefapai-r of vertically arrangedniov 1, membersadapted toiirengaee said pm when thecar'reach'es any given level, means formoving'the members horizon'tally and thereby ,supplying' a horizjontaltcomponento'f motion to the' pin to open andclose theidoors, and said member'sladapted thereafter to beldiseng'aged from said pm and remain in a sp'acedapart position whereby the pin can pas ntherebetween during'th' vertical movement of the car in; the shaft, said means including a motor for supplying .rotaryl'power, intermediate linkages connecting saidmembers to the motor including alcrank' arm connecting one of saidmembers directly to the motor, a coupling device for connecting the second niem b erto the said first member and cam means operated by said crank arm andiassociated with said ,QOupling device whereby said 'memberslare movable toward each other when the motor is rotated.

In a device, of the character described including a vertical shaft in whicha car is adapted to ridels'a'id shaft having seem :of levels with a door opening mechanism ateach level and each mechanism having-a lever and a pin on said lever'protruding into the shaft in operative relationshipto thecanwher eby said mechanism is operable when the pin is moved parallel to the plane of the door, a riding car operator mounted onsaid car comprising a frame, a pair of vertically arranged movable members adapted to engage said pm when the carreaches any given level, means for moving the members horizontally and thereby supplying a horizontal component ofgmotiontothe pin to open and close the doors, and said members adapted thereafter to be disengaged from said pin and remain in a spaced apart position whereby the pin can pass therebetween during thevertical movement of the 'car' in theshaft, said. means including a motor for supplying rotary power, intermediate linkages connecting said members to the motor including a crank arm connecting one ofsaid members directly to the motor,a coupling device for connecting the second member to the said first member and cam means operated by said crank arm and associated with said coupling device whereby said members are movable toward each other when the motor is rotated, said cam means including an 'arcuate. lever pivotally mounted on said frame/a push 'rod pivotally secured to'said lever, the crank arm engaging the lever for pivoting same whereby the end of the push rod is engaged against the said second member;

3. In a device of the character described fin eluding a vertical shaft in which a cari "adapted to ride, said shaft having a series of levels with a door opening mechanism at each levels-and each mechanism having a lever and avpin on said lever protruding into the shaft in operative relationship to the car, w erebys' d mechanism is operable when the, pin isi moved parallel to the plane of the door, a iriding" caroperator mounted on said car comprising a frame, a pair of vertically arranged movable members adapted to engagesaid spin when the carreaches any given level, means formov'ing the members horiq 13 zontally and thereby supplying a horizontal component of motion to the pin to open and close the doors, and said members adapted thereafter to be disengaged from said pin and remain in a spaced apart position whereby the pin can pass therebetween during the vertical movement of the car in the shaft, said means including a motor for supplying rotary power, intermediate linkages connecting said members to the motor including a crank arm connecting one of said members directly to the motor, a coupling device for connecting the second member to the said first member and cam means operated by said crank arm and associated with said coupling device whereby said members are movable toward each other when the motor is rotated, said cam means including an arcuate lever pivotally mounted on said frame, a push rod pivotally secured to said lever, the crank arm engaging the lever for pivoting same whereby the end of the push rod is engaged against the said second member, said coupling device comprising a plate member secured to said first member, a rod connecting said plate member directly to said crank arm, teeth attached on said plate member and dog means attached to said second member and adapted to engage with said teeth, the said push rod having means for disengaging the dog means when the second member is pushed away from the pin.

9. In a device of the character described including a vertical shaft in which a carrier is adapted to ride up and down, said shaft having a series of levels with a door opening mechanism at each level and each mechanism having a lever and a pin on said lever projecting into said shaft in operative relationship to the car, and a pair of pin-engaging members on said car having means associated therewith for moving said members into engagement with said pin at each level and thereafter to push said members away from said pin whereby the pin can pass therebetween as the carrier rides up and down the shaft, a coupling device connecting the first pin-engaging member to the second pin-engaging member comprising a plate member rigidly connected to the said first pin-engaging member, a slidable member associated with said plate member and connected to said second pin-engaging member, teeth attached on said plate member and dog means secured to said slidable member adapted to engage with teeth whereby movement of said plate member in one direction will move the slidable member in an opposite direction thereby urging said pin-engaging members toward each other to engage the said pin and away from each other for permitting passage of said pin therebetween.

10. In a device of the character described including a vertical shaft in which a car is adapted to ride, said shaft having a plurality of levels with a door opening mechanism at each level and each mechanism having a lever and a pin extending into said shaft in operative relationship to said car and a car riding operator mounted on said car adapted to be coupled with said door opening mechanism when the car is stopped at each level, a pair of vertically arranged pin-engaging jaws movable by said operator from a point removed from said jaws, said jaws adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said pin for opening and closing the doors at any given level and said jaws adapted thereafter to be moved apart from said pin and remain in spaced vertical relationship whereby the pin can pass thercbetween during the vertical movement of the car in the shaft.

11. In a device of the character described, means for moving a pair of pin-engaging jaws one relative to the other including a crank arm directly coupled to one jaw and means for rotating said crank arm, and cam means engaged by the crank arm in its rotary motion and connected with the second jaw to' cause relative motion.

12. In a device of the character described. means for moving a pair of pin-engaging jaws one relative to the other including a, crank arm directly coupled to one'jaw and means for rotatingsaid crank arm, and cam means engaged by the crank arm in its rotary motion and connected with the second jaw to cause relative motion, and means for temporarily coupling the jaws together at a predetermined point.

13. In a device of the character described, means for moving a pair of pin-engaging jaws one relative to the other including a crank arm directly coupled to one jaw and means for rotating said crank arm, and cam means engaged by the crank arm in its rotary motion and connected with the second jaw to cause relative motion, and means for temporarily coupling the jaws together at a predetermined point, comprising a dog and tooth coupling device.

'14. In a device of the character described including a vertical shaft in which a caris adapted to ride, said shaft having a series of levels with a door opening mechanism at each level and each mechanism having a lever and a pin on said lever protruding into the shaft in operative relationship to the car, whereby said mechanism is operable When the pin is moved parallel to the plane of the door, a riding car operator mounted on said car comprising a frame, a pair of vertically arranged movable members adapted to engage said pin when the car reaches any given level, means for moving the members horizontally and thereby supplying a horizontal component of motion to the pin to open and close the doors, and said members adapted thereafter to be disengaged from said pin and remain in a spaced apart position whereby the pin can pass therebetween during the vertical movement of the car in the shaft, said moving means including bracing members adapted to be moved into engagement on opposite sides of the shaft while the vertically arranged members are engaged with said pin.

15. In a device of .the character described, means for moving a pair of pin-engaging jaws one relative to the other including a crank arm directly coupled to one jaw and means for rotating said crank arm, and cam means engaged by the crank arm in its rotary motion and connected with the second jaw to cause relative motion, and a pair of car-bracing members associated with the cam means and adapted to move in opposite direction thereby.

WES'I'ROPP ARMSTRONG.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Hains Jan. 11, 1949 Number 

